Question 1

How reliable are manta ray sightings at Anau?

Accepted Answer

Manta ray sightings at Anau are highly reliable from May through November, with encounter rates exceeding 80 percent during peak months. The mantas are resident to Bora Bora's lagoon and regularly visit the Anau coral garden to feed on plankton that accumulates in the shallow channels. Unlike ocean manta encounters that depend on chance, the lagoon population has predictable movement patterns. Most dive operators offer a guarantee of a second dive if mantas are not seen, though this is rarely needed during the season.

Question 2

Is the diving at Anau suitable for beginners?

Accepted Answer

Anau is one of the most accessible manta ray dive sites in the world. The maximum depth is around 20 metres, with most manta encounters occurring between 8 and 15 metres over sand channels between coral heads. Currents inside the lagoon are minimal, visibility typically exceeds 25 metres, and the water temperature stays between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius year-round. Open Water certified divers with basic buoyancy skills can comfortably enjoy the site. Snorkelers also encounter mantas here, as the rays frequently feed near the surface.

Question 3

How does Anau compare to the outer reef passes for manta diving?

Accepted Answer

Anau offers a fundamentally different experience from the outer passes. The lagoon site provides calm, clear, shallow water where mantas feed and cruise at a relaxed pace, ideal for photography and extended observation. The outer passes like Tapu offer current-driven diving with encounters with grey reef sharks, barracuda, and occasional hammerheads alongside mantas, but require more experience and produce shorter, more intense encounters. Most visiting divers combine both environments across multiple dive days to experience the full spectrum of Bora Bora diving.

Question 4

Is the Moorea shark and ray feeding dive safe for beginners?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is one of the most accessible shark diving experiences in the world. The dive takes place in relatively shallow water between 10 and 25 metres on a sandy bottom with mild currents. Blacktip reef sharks are not aggressive toward divers and are accustomed to human presence. Dive operators provide thorough briefings on positioning and behaviour around the sharks. Even snorkellers can observe from the surface, though the scuba experience provides much closer encounters.

Question 5

What species of sharks and rays will I see at Moorea?

Accepted Answer

The primary species are blacktip reef sharks, which are present in numbers ranging from a dozen to over fifty individuals depending on the day. Lemon sharks, which can reach over two metres in length, are regular visitors that create memorable moments when they pass close to divers. Southern stingrays are abundant and remarkably comfortable around divers. Eagle rays occasionally pass through, and whitetip reef sharks are sometimes seen resting on the sandy bottom.

Regions

Leeward Islands

Society Islands

Tuamotu Archipelago

All dive sites

Anau Manta Point

Moorea Shark & Ray Feeding

South Pass (Tumakohua)

Tiputa Pass

Dive centers in French Polynesia

Plongée Tahiti - Eleuthera Tahiti Diving Center

ScubaTek Tahiti Dive Center

Dive and Sea Tahiti

Fluid Plongée

BLUE - Tahiti Dive Center

Tahiti Iti Diving

Mokarran Diving Tahiti

Tahiti Plongée Passion

NEMO'Z Diving Pick-Up Point

Bora Diving Center

Polyn'easy Dive And Tours

Rangiroa Diving Center

Rangiroa Plongee

Topdive Rangiroa

Y AKA Plongée RANGIROA

Kaina Plongée - Fakarava Diving Center

Dive Spirit Fakarava

TOPDIVE Fakarava

Tetamanu Diving

Bora Ocean Adventures

HiRO DiVE BORA BORA

Dive and smile

BORA BORA DIVEASY

Moorea Blue Diving

Moorea Underwater Experience

Moorea Fun Dive

Scubapiti

Ia Ora Diving

Diving in French Polynesia

FAQ

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